Key retainer



H. R. SEGAL Nov. 7, 1967 KEY RETAINER Filed Aug. 26. 1965 FIGB.

FIGA. F|G.5.

m F F Alu.. n@ F INVENTOR HYMAN RSEGAL ATTORNEY United States Patentlice Drive,

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a multiplekey holder and comprises a plurality of key loops, each key loop havinga shank with a head at one end thereof. A support means is providedwhich has provided therein a plurality of release apertures whichreceive the shank and are held therein by the head. A closure means isrotatably mounted within the support means such that in one position theclosure means will hold the heads of the plurality of key loops withinthe support means and in another position will open the releaseapertures to permit the withdrawal of the heads from the support means.A locking means is also provided to hold the closure means in the oneposition to prevent accidental manipulation of the closure means to itsopen position.

This invention pertains to key retainers for the support of key carryingloops.

This invention relates generally to key holders, and

more particularly it relates to an improved and useful key holder forsupporting a plurality of key carrying loops in a suspended manner withmeans Afor quickly and conveniently effecting the engagement and releaseof the loops.

More particularly, this invention relates to and is somewhat in thenature of an improvement upon the disclosure of my previous UnitedStates Patent No. 2,575,472 entitled, Key Holder, issued Nov. 20, 1951.In the key holder as described in the said patent, a plurality of keycarrying loops are suspended from a supporting plate for-med with slotshaving enlarged portions through which the heads of the key loops may bepassed for removing the loops, and a crank-shaft mounted for rotation onthe supporting plate, and provided with a handle at one end and havingoffset portions adapted in one angular position of the crank-shaft tocover the enlarged portions of the slots to prevent the key loops frombeing removed, and said crank-shaft being rotatable to another angularposition to move the offset portions to uncover the enlarged portions ofthe slots sulliciently to permit the heads of the key carrying loops tobe moved therethrough for removing the key loops.

Various problems arose when attempts were made to construct and use keyholders of the above briey described type which would retain the keyloops in their locked position. If the closure means in the form of thecrank-shaft was maintained in its established closed position and thekey holder in ya more or less permanent upright position then the loopsas well as the keys secured thereto are prevented from slipping off.But, when the key holder is in a key wallet which is subject to ymanychanges in position, and more especially, if the handle of thecrank-shaft is accidentally shifted causing it to rotate to its openposition the loops have a tendency due to the weight of the keysthereonto fall out of the enlarged openings.

Since, said invention disclosed in my previous application is notprovided with positive locking means for 3,350,903 Patented Nov. 7, 1967retaining the crank-shaft in its closed position the same may be openedby the application of a relatively small force. But, by the provision ofa closure member formed to be frictionally engageable `with its :supporthousing, a much greater force will be required to rotate the closuremember from its normally closed position, wherein the key loops aresecured in place to the open position, wherein said key loops are freelyremovable. p

It is further desirable to provide a locking arrangement between thesupport member and the closure member when the latter is in its closedposition to prevent accidental manipulation of the closure member of itsopen position. In accordance with the present invention a lockingarrangement is provided to retain the key holder in its closed positionuntil the user desires to remove or add any key loops thereto.

In light of the above, an important object of this invention is theprovision of an improved key holder having the above noted frictionalcharacteristics for preventing accidental opening of the closure means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of locking means forpositively locking said closure member to the supporting member.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of an improvedclosure member which may be easily opened by the application of aunidirectional pushing or pulling force and which remains in theposition desired without the necessity of the user continually retainingit in said position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a pair of closuremembers to permit access to smaller groups of key loops therebysubstantially diminishing the number of key loops that can possibly fallout if the key holder is inadvertently rotated while attempting toinsert or remove a loop therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improvedkey loop in which the above described means for positively preventingaccidental opening of the key holder is further enhanced.

Other objects of this invention reside in the provision of an improvedkey holder which is extremely simple in construction, durable and strongthroughout long periods of continued use, relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, simple and eliicient in its operation, and highly efficientin sustaining the above noted objects and purposes.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the followingdetailed description of illustrative ernbodiments thereof which is to beread in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a key ing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof, with parts broken away andin cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front View in section, of a portion of theclosure and support means of FIGURE 2, showing the contacting surfacestherebetween to aid in explaining the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE l, but showing amodiiication of the closure means cooperating with the support means;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view thereof, with parts broken away andin cross-section;

holder embody- FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-8 ofFIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the closure handleand support means being shown in interfitted locked relationship to eachother, the closure means being shown in its closed position;

FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view of the locking structure shown inFIGURE 9; with a portion thereof broken away and in cross-section.

FIGURE 11 is a view `similar to lChat of FIGURE 9, but showing amodification of the locking arrangement between the closure and supportmeans;

FIGURE l2 is an end elevational view of the locking structure shown inFIGURE l1; with a portion thereof broken away and in cross-section;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged front elevational view of a key loop inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE13.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURES 1 through 5thereof, it will be seen that a key holder embodying the presentinvention, may be generally identified by the reference numeral 1f),comprises ka supporting member or plate 12, a closure member orcrankshaft 40 mounted for rotation therewith, and a plurality of keycarrying loops or hooks 5t) swingably mounted on the supporting plate.

The supporting plate 12 comprises a lower generally fiat wall portion 13:and an upper portion 14 consisting of a plurality of spaced apartupright fingers extending from and integral with the upper edge 23 ofthe lower portion 13 of the Supporting member I2. A pair of end fingers15 extend from each end of the lower portion 13 and at least oneintermediate finger 16 is provided between said end fingers V. Theintermediate fingers 16 also may be integral with and extend from theupper edge 28 of the lower portion 13 of the supporting member.

The lingers 15 comprise a forwardly and upwardly curved portion 17 fromwhich extends a rearwardly and upwardly inclined portion 13 terminatingin a rearwardly and downwardly extending ear portion 19 to form anaperture 2G (FIGURE 4) for receiving the closure member 4l).

The intermediate lingers 16 are constructed such that the end fingers.l5 are comprised of a forwardly and upwardly curved portion 22 fromwhich extends a rearwardly and upwardly inclined portion 23 terminatingin a rearwardly and downwardly extending ear portion 24 to form anaperture 25 (FIGURE 5) for receiving the closure member 4f). Theapertures 20 and 25 are in longitudinal alignment with each other andare formed as such to provide a substantially cylindrical lbearingsurface for passage therethrough of the closure member 40. The apertures20 and 25 being positioned with respect to the fiat wall 13 such that aportion of the closure member 46 may contact said wall 13, as shown inFIGURE 4.

The lingers 15 `and 16 are thus in aligned spaced relationship and areintegrally joined together at one end thereof and terminating in asubstantially closed ear portion to define the apertures 20 and 25respectively. The fingers (15, 16) are spaced apart to dene ,a pluralityof transversely extending slots 27 which extend from the upper edge 28of the lower portion 13 of the support member 12 until the end of thefingers 15 and 16 and are of a width to pass the shank 55 of the keyloop Sti but not the head 51 thereof.

The upper end of the slots 27 are provided with release apertures 30which are formed by notches or cutouts 31 formed at each intermediatefinger 16 and the corner of the end fingers 15 facing the slot 27, thepurpose of the release apertures 30 will hereinafter be described morefully.

The key carrying loops 5f) each comprise a shank 5S, a bent back loopedportion 56, and an enlarged anchoring head 51 at the upper end of theshank 55. As shown in FIGURE 2, the shank 55 of each loop Si) passesthrough 4 one of the slots 27. The shanks 55 and the bent back portions56 normally lie against the front of wall 13 and the heads 51 engage theinner surfaces of the curved portions 17 of the lingers 15 and 16. Thus,the key carrying loops 50 can swing within the slots 27, but aresuspended by means of the enlarged heads 51. The loops Sli may be swungforwardly and upwardly for use as for insertion of one or more keyswithin the looped portion 56, as by moving loops 5f) along theirrespective slots 27, but they are retained by the supporting plate 12during this process.

The closure member 4t? comprises releasable means for preventing removalof the key carrying loops 50, while permitting said loops to Swing. Tothis end the closure member 40 extends lengthwise through the apertures20 and 25 defined by the ear portions 19 and 24 of fingers 15 and 16respectively, and is rotatable therein from a normally closed positionto block the release apertures 30 to an open position to permit therelease of the loop head 51 therethrough. The closure member 40 iscontinuously biased against the walls 33 and 34 defining apertures 20and 25 to provide frictional engagement therebetween thereby requiring apositive force to be applied to the closure member 40 for rotationthereof.

The closure member 40 may be stamped or formed from a strip of wire intothe desired shape (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3), which is shown to be providedwith a series of inverted curved sections 41 and 42 integral with eachother and terminating at one end thereof in a handle portion 43 with aneyelet shaped end 44 at one end thereof and in a substantially straightsection 45 at the opposite end thereof. The curved sections 41 arepositioned co-extensively within the ear portions 24 and the curvedsections 42 within the slots 217. The curved sections 41 are formed tohave a curvature which when situated within apertures 25 and/or 20 willfrictionally engage the inner wall 34 of the ears 24 and may also engagethe wall 33 defined by ear 19 of the end fingers 15. As illustrated inFIGURE 3 the curved section 41 has essentially three contacting surfaceswhich frictionally engage the wall 34 at points F to therebycontinuously bias the closure member 4t) as if it were acting as aspring. By providing a closure member 40 that is continuously biased apositive force is required to rotate the closure member 43 when thehandle 43 is engaged either accidentally or intentionally. Additionallythe closure member 40 will remain in the position selected by the userand this is of particular importance when a key loop 5t) is beingengaged or disengaged from the key hol-der 10. Once the closure member4f) is rotated to its open position the user will have both hands freeto accomplish his desired task of manipulating the key loop.

Thus, the curved sections 41 situated within the ears 24 are contouredto engage the inner wall of said ears 24 irrespective of the closuremembers 41B position and in this manner a continuous frictional force isencountered by the user when an attempt is made to rotate the closuremember 40.

The sections 42 of the closure member 4t) contained within the slots 27are preferably formed having a curvature to block the release apertures3l) when the closure member 40 is in its closed position, therebysimultaneously closing the closure apertures 3f) of the slots 2'7 toprevent the heads 51 of the hooks 50 from moving through the releaseapertures 3G of these slots 27, and thereby retaining the key carryingloops 5l) on the supporting plate 12.. The offset handle 43 which has acurved portion 44 is: adapted to contact the front of the flat wall 13when the closure member is in its locking position. Thus, when the:closure member 40 is in its locking position, the handle 43 projectsdownwardly whereas, the curved portions 42 project forwardly, as shownin FIGURE 3.

The fingers 15 and 16 which terminate in curved ear portions 19 and 24forming the bearing walls 33 and 34 respectively, are preferably inlongitudinal alignment with each other to rotatably guide andfrictionally engage the closure member 40 positioned therethrough.

As shown ini FIGURES l and 2 the slot 27 is not necessarily equal inwidth to that of the upper terminal portions 21 and` 26 which terminatein the ears 19 and 24 respectively. The criterion is that the curvatureof the sections42 be suliicient to block the release apertures 3d whenthe closure means 40 is in its closed position and to permit releaseofthe key loop 5t) when said closure means 4i) is rotated upwardlyapproximately 18() degrees.

When the closure member 40 is rotated to its open position, as shown inFIGURE 7, and will hereinafter be explained with respect the-reto, thecurved section 42 is rotated to a position which permits the heads 51 tobe lifted out of slots 27 and through release aperture 30 to becompletely clear of the key holder 10.

In thezabove described key holder 1t), the closure means 40 consisted ofone closure member 4t), however, as shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 a keyholder 10a which is generally similar to the key holder 10 and has partsidentified by the same reference numerals employed in connection withthe corresponding parts of key holder 10, but with the letter a appendedthereto, is provided with a pair of symmetrical closure members 43aextending along the longitudinal axis formed by the apertures 20a and25a.

The average key holder is generally manufactured to accommodate aboutsix to eight key loops and in the embodiment 10 of the present inventionthe entire closure member 4t) has to be rotated from its closed to openposition to gain access to insert or remove a key loop. Although thepresent invention permits the user to have both hands free formanipulation of the key loop 50 since the closure member 40` will remainin its open position due to` the frictionally designed characteristicsinherent therein, there is always the possibility that the user willtilt the key holder 10' in its open position thereby causing all theloops 50 to fall out. To alleviate his problem a pair of closure members40a are employed and are generally similar to closure means 40 exceptthat they contain a lesser number of inverted curved portions 41a and42a. Each of the closure members 46a comprise releasable means forpreventing removal of the key carrying loops 50a, while permitting saidloops to swing.

Each closure member 40a extends lengthwise through the apertures 20a and25a defined by the ear portions 12a and 24a of fingers 15a and 16arespectively, and is rotatable therein from a normally closed positionto block the release apertures 30a to an open position to permit therelease of the loop head. 51a therethrough. The closure members 40a arecontinuously biased against the Walls 33a and 34a dening apertures 20aand 25a to provide frictional engagement therebetween to require apositive force to be applied to the closure member 40a for rotationthereof.

The inverted curved sections 41a and 42a are integral with each otherand terminate at one end thereof in a handle portion 43a with eyeletshaped end 44a at one end thereof and in a substantially straightsection 45a at the opposite end thereof. The closure members 40a faceeach other and terminate in an intermediate finger 16a (FIGURE 7) andare each individually operable with respect to the support plate 12a.

Another advantage of providing a pair of closure members 40a is theability to increase the biasing load or frictional resistance ,betweenthe contacting surfaces associated with each closure member 40a andsimultaneously maintain the force to be applied for rotation of theclosure member the same as when one closure member per key holder isemployed. One reason for this is that since there are fewer contactingedges or surfaces on the closure member they can each sustain anincreased loading per contacting surface.

As illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 the closure members 40a may beoperated independently of each other and wherein one may be in itsopened position, the other may be in its closed position. rI`hisiiexability permits the 6 user to gain access to a select grouping ofkey loops 50a for either the removal or insertion within the key holder10a of said loops Stia with the chance of fewer loops falling out. Thekey loop 50a is removed from the key holder 19a by firstly rotating theclosure member 46u associated therewith to its open position. Key loopStia is secondly pivoted to a substantially horizontal position as seenbest in FIGURE 8 and thirdly moved in a vertical direction until itshead 5l@ exists thro-ugh the release aperture 30a. To insert a key loopthe process is essentially reversed.

Although the above described positive restraining means between theclosure and support means substantially reduces the potential accidentalmanipulation of the closure means to its open position a lockingarrangement is herein provided to further safeguard the user from suchan occurrence. The locking arrangements illustrated in FIGURES 9 throughl2, and hereinafter to be described in` detail, may also be employedwith a key holder that is not provided with any positive restrainingmeans between the closure and support means.

As shown in` FIGURES 9 and 10, a key holder 10b which may be generallysimilar to the previously described key holders 10 and 10a and which hasits several parts identified by the same reference numbers as have beenused in describing the corresponding parts of the previously describedkey holders, is provided with a locking arrangement to provide positiveengagement between the closure member 4Gb and support plate 12b. Theclosure member 4Gb of the present invention may be formed from a steelor aluminum wire, and the latter may vary in diameter depending upon themetal used and the degree of resiliency desired. The handle portion 43hterminates in a looped eyelet end 44h which has .a leg 46 extendingangularly therefrom and in a direction towards the lower portion 13b ofthe supporting plate 12b.

To` accommodate the leg 46 a raised flared projection 4'7 extending fromthe lower portion 13b of the support plate 12b and having a lreceivingrecess or aperture 48 to define a bearing surface for frictionallyengaging the leg 4,6 when the latter is in the closed positionillustrated in FIGURE 10 is provided. The eyelet end 44b preferably hasa region thereof which exceeds the limit defined by the support member12b (FIGURE 9) to permit the user to grasp the eyelet end 44b of theclosure handle 431; and pull it upwardly to rotate the closure member40b to its open position. When the leg 46 is forced down into itsengaging position, the leg 46 is snugly engaged with the bearing surfaceof recess 48 of the flared projection 47. The leg 46 thus firmly engagesthe support member 12b in the manner of a clamp to prevent accidentaldisengagement thereof.

FIGURES 11 and 12 illustrate a key holder 10c which may be generallysimilar to the previously described key holders 10 and 10a, Vand whichhas its several parts identified by the same reference numerals as havebeen used in describing the corresponding parts of the previouslydescribed key holders, but is provided with a locking arrangement ofanother design as to that illustrated in FIGURES 9 and l0.

A raised projection 52 having an outer bearing surface 53 is integrallyconnected to the lower portion 13e of the support member 12al andextending outwardly therefrom and in the direction of the closure member40C. The handle portion 43e of the closure member 40C terminates in aneyelet end section 44e` having an inner bearing surface 54 tofrictionally engage the outer bearing surface 53 of the raisedprojection extending from the support member 13e. The eyelet section 44Clirmly engages the raised projection 52 to prevent accidental opening ofthe closure member 40.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the hereinabovedescribed locking arrangements provide not only the desired lockingfeature but also coincidentallyprovide a visual warning `as to whetheror not the key loops 60, in any of their various forms, are locked intoposition on the supporting plate 12. It may be seen that when theclosure member 40, is in the downwardly facing position the key loops 60are closed into the locked position and the position of the closuremember 40 in relation to the support plate 12 will visually indicatewhether or not the key loops 60 are locked into position.

The desirability of easily removing or inserting a key onto the key loopis present irrespective of the other features of the key holder. The keyloop 60 illustrated in FIGURES 13 and 14 may be used in combination withany of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention and isessentially a key loop that has the additional safeguard of requiring apositive force to be applied thereto to separate the overlapping edgesfor insertion or removal of a key therefrom.

Depending from the key loop head 61 are a pair of arm members. The firstarm member or shank 62 consists of the upper substantially straightsection 64 and rigid restraining member 66. The second arm 65 isprovided with an upper section 63, which is joined to the underside ofthe key loop head 61 with the first arm member or shank 62, and isintegral with and merges into an outwardly curved portion 67 and anupwardly and forwarldy curved portion 68 terminating in an elongatededge 69. The rigid restraining member 66 is integrally joined by itsupper portion 64 to the head 61 and its opposite end merging into acurved portion 70 which curves towards the arm 65 and terminates in anelongated edge 71.

The elongated edges 69 and 71 are designed and may have a fiat orconcave cross-section to fit Within each other and to resist the outwardpressure of the arm 65. The key loop 60 of the present invention iscontoured to specifically take advantage of tension obtained when thearm 65 is formed with its upwardly curved portion 68 in the form of theuncompleted loop about half an inch or more from where it merges at thebase 67 so that its elongated edge 62 is made to press under but againstthe curved portion 70 of the rigid restraining member 66. Therestraining member 66 may be made about threequarters of an inch inlength with its curved portion to enclose the overlapping free end ofthe arm 65 for a distance of about one-quarter of an inch. in thisarrangement the shorter rigid restraining member 66 may be on eitherside of the elongated edge 69 of the arm 65.

With this arrangement of elements the stress normally built up beneaththe key loop head 61 flows from the head itself into the two arms, andthe opposing stresses of the rigid restraining member 66 and elongatededge 69 require a positive force to overcome the said forces. ln ,aremovable keyholder it is a further advantage, by way of adding a formof security, to provide a type of loop from which a key may easily beremoved without extracting the loop from the keyholder per se.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred embodiments ofthe present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, itis to be particularly understood that the invention is not limitedthereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a plurality of key loops, each loop beingprovided with a shank having a head positioned at the end of the latter,support means removably suspending said key loops therefrom, saidsupport means including a plurality of spaced fingers integrally joinedtogether 'at one end and terminating in a substantially closed ear atthe opposite end to define an aperture, the aperture of said ears beingin substantial longitudinal alignment with each other, said fingersbeing spaced apart t-o define a plurality of transversely extendingslots, each slot being of a width to pass the shank of the key loop butto retain the head thereof, each of said slots being provided with arelease aperture, said release aperture being large enough to pass thehead of the key loop, and closure means extending lengthwise through theapertures defined by said ears and rotatably therein from a normallyclosed position to block said release apertures to an open position topermit the release of said loop heads through said release apertures,said closure means including a series of curved sections connected toeach other and terminating at one end thereof in a handle portion, saidcurved sections being provided with contacting surfaces for frictionallyengaging the surface of at least one of the apertures defined by saidears to thereby require a positive force to be applied to said closuremeans for rotation thereof, a locking means for securing said supportmeans to said closure means when the latter is in its closed position toprevent accidental manipulation of the closure means to its openposition, said locking means including a raised projection having abearing surface, said raised projection extending from said supportmeans and adapted to frictionally engage the handle p0rtion of theclosure means with its bearing surface, said handle portion being formedwith an eyelet section adapted to fit around said projection.

2. A key holder comprising a plurality of key loops, each loop beingprovided with a shank having a lead positioned -at the end of thelatter, support means removably suspending said key loops therefrom,said support means including a plurality of spaced fingers integrallyjoined together at one end and terminating in a substantially closed earat the opposite end to define an aperture, the yaperture of said earsbeing in substantially longitudinal alignment with each other, saidfingers being spaced apart to define a plurality of transverselyextending slots, each slot being of a width to pass the shank of the-key loop to retain the head thereof, each of said slots being providedwith a release aperture, said release aperture being large enough topass the head of the key loop, and closure means extending lengthwisethrough the apertures defined by said ears and rotatable therein from anormally closed position to block said release apertures to an openposition to permit the release of said loop heads through said releaseapertures, said closure means including a series of curved sectionsconnected to each other and terminating at one end thereof in a handleportion, said curved sections being provided with contacting surfacesfor frictionally engaging the surface of at least one of the aperturesdefined by said ears to thereby require a positive force to be appliedto said closure means for rotation thereof, a locking means for securingsaid support means to said closure means when the latter is in itsclosed position to prevent accidental manipulation of the closure meansto its open position, said locking means including a recess located onthe support means, and a raised projection extending from the handle ofthe closure means and adapted to frictionally engage said recess.

3. A key holder comprising a plurality of key loops, each loop providedwith a shank having a head positioned at the end of the shank, supportmeans to removably suspend said key loops therefrom, said support meansincluding a plurality of spaced apart fingers integrally joined togetherat one end thereof and terminating in a substantially closed ear at theopposite end to define an aperture, the apertures of said ears being insubstantial longitudinal alignment with each other, said fingers beingspaced apart to define a plurality of transversely extending slots, eachslot being of a width to pass the shank of the key loop but to retainthe head thereof, each of said slots being provided with a releaseaperture, said release aperture being large enough to pass the head ofthe key loop, closure means extending lengthwise through the aperturesdefined by said ears and rotatable therein from a normally closedposition to block said release apertures to an open position to permitthe release of said loop heads through said rele-ase apertures, saidclosure means being continuously biased against the Walls defining saidapertures defined by said ears to provide frictional engagementtherebetween to require a positive force to be applied to said closuremeans for rotation thereof, locking means for securing said supportmeans to said closure means when the latter is in its closed position toprevent accidental manipulation of the closure means to its openposition, said key loops are provided with a pair of arm membersdepending from said head, one of said arm members deining a rigidrestraining member, said rigid restraining member including acomparatively straight portion connected to said head and a curved endportion extending towards the other arm and terminating in an elongatededge, said other yarm including a comparatively straight portionconnected to said head, an outwardly curved intermediate portion and anupwardly and forwardly curved end portion having an elongated edgeterminating inwardly of and overlapping said elongated edge of saidrestraining member in side by side relationship, said overlappingelongated edges being separable by applying a positive force to saidupwardly and forwardly curved end portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bowen 150-40 Lorber 150-40 Geller70-456 Geller 70-456 Behrman et al. 70--456 Zarowin 70-456 Segal 70-456France.

l5 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

1. A KEY HOLDER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF KEY LOOPS, EACH LOOP BEINGPROVIDED WITH A SHANK HAVING A HEAD POSITIONED AT THE END OF THE LATTER,SUPPORT MEANS REMOVABLY SUSPENDING SAID KEY LOOPS THEREFROM, SAIDSUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED FINGERS INTEGRALLY JOINEDTOGETHER AT ONE END AND TERMINATING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED EAR AT THEOPPOSITE END TO DEFINE AN APERTURE, THE APERTURE OF SAID EARS BEING INSUSBTANTIAL LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, SAID FINGERS BEINGSPACED APART TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SLOTS, EACHSLOT BEING OF A WIDTH TO PASS THE SHANK OF THE KEY LOOP BUT TO RETAINTHE HEAD THEREOF, EACH OF SAID SLOTS BEING PROVIDED WITH A RELEASEAPERTURE, SAID RELEASE APERTURE BEING LARGE ENOUGH TO PASS THE HEAD OFTHE KEY LOOP, AND CLOSURE MEANS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THROUGH THEAPERTURES DEFINED BY SAID EARS AND ROTATABLY THEREIN FROM A NORMALLYCLOSED POSITION TO BLOCK SAID RELEASE APERTURES TO AN OPEN POSITION TOPERMIT THE RELEASE OF SAID LOOP HEADS THROUGH SAID RELEASE APERTURES,SAID CLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING A SERIES OF CURVED SECTIONS CONNECTED TOEACH OTHER AND TERMINATING AT ONE END THEREOF IN A HANDLE PORTION, SAIDCURVED SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH CONTACTING SURFACES FOR FRICTIONALLYENGAGING THE SURFACE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES DEFINED BY SAIDEARS TO THEREBY REQUIRE A POSITIVE FORCE TO BE APPLIED TO SAID CLOSUREMEANS FOR ROTATION THEREOF, A LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SUPPORTMEANS TO SAID CLOSURE MEANS WHEN THE LATTER IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION TOPREVENT ACCIDENTAL MANIPULATION OF THE CLOSURE MEANS TO ITS OPENPOSITION, SAID LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A RAISED PROJECTION HAVING ABEARING SURFACE, SAID RAISED PROJECTION EXTENDING FROM SAID SUPPORTMEANS AND ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE HANDLE PORTION OF THECLOSURE MEANS WITH ITS BEARING SURFACE, SAID HANDLE PORTION BEING FORMEDWITH AN EYELET SECTION ADAPTED TO FIT AROUND SAID PROJECTION. ADAPTED TOFIT AROUND SAID PROJECTION.